OK, we’re not sure the UCI has even seen Japanese robot enthusiast Dr. Guero’s tiny Kondo KHR-3HV humanoid robot riding, but it has mechanical doping written all over it. If only it could start riding again after dragging its feet to stop.
Image of your future overlord after the break…
Since Light & Motion’s Vis 180 was released last fall and the subsequent arrival of Exposure’s Flare, I have been swapping between the two lights, which each represent a different take a new breed of self-contained, high-powered, rechargeable bicycle tail lights. Bright enough to be seen in all conditions (but no, not bright enough to “blind” anyone except those foolish enough to put it against their eye) and convenient to use, mount, and unmount, both lights have proved themselves- though for different riders. Here’s my take on the Exposure Flare:
CNC machined in England and boasting a massive 75 lumen output from either rechargeable or disposable CR123A batteries, Exposure’s Flare is an amazing little package. With its electronics located in the rotating bezel/switch/diffuser, Exposure have prioritized simplicity and weather resistance in the $70 Flare’s design. Read on for our impression after spending a spring and fall with the little guy…
Photo submitted by Martin Magallanes, “a morning rite at Fairview park Calif.”
To see more Pics of the Day, click here, and to submit your own photo to be shown to the world, go here.
We took two diehard 26″ mountain bike racers and switched their bikes for Orbea Alma 29ers. Each spent several months riding and racing everything from short track to 24 hour team relays on either the S10 carbon or H30 alloy model, then they swapped rides. After a solid season of racing the verdicts are in. But first, the techy stuff:
The 2011 Orbea Alma 29er was introduced first in carbon fiber form in the summer of 2010, replacing the original Alma 29er that debuted in 2006. It quickly became their best selling mountain bike in the U.S., so around January they started bringing in an alloy model in three trim levels to offer more competitive price points. Like their Orca road bike, the carbon model uses their direct cable routing with Gore Ride-On sealed cable liner snaking through molded cable guides. The frame uses a “4×4″ layout that effectively pushes the seatstays past the seat tube, creating a bend in the top tube. The result are more horizontal seatstays that claim to give a smoother ride. For 2012, only minor cosmetic changes come to the frame’s hardware.
The alloy models do a pretty good job of mirroring the look of the carbon frames but get more traditional cable housing and stops. The alloy bike’s tech and frame details are covered here. More on each frame’s tech is covered within the full reviews here, too.
Here, in Part One, is our review of the 2011 Orbea Alma S10 Carbon…
Tired of schlepping his Xtra Cycle in and out of his NYC apartment, Fast Boy Cycles founder Ezra Caldwell has been toying with the Nose Bike for a while now. In fact, this is version two and has been his main bike for the past month.
He says he’s got it pretty much where he wants it, just a few minor geometry tweaks, then it’ll become a regular offering from his custom bike program. Oh, and he’s also designed a new dropout that’ll keep the sliding dropout design shown here but moves the disc brake mounts inside the rear triangle. Why? Read on…
‘Tis the season to give, well, Bak…
Hot on the heals of a very positive profile of the organization in Fast Company, Water.org- headed by Matt Damon and Gary White- has partnered with CamelBak to present a pair of bottles that not only keep nasties out of your water but also helps provide safe water access to those without it. Click through to read the full release and to see the second bottle…
Just in time for the rainy season, Mission Workshop introduces it’s Fitzroy Ruckpack for everyday use in all conditions.
PRESS RELEASE: The Fitzroy is an impenetrable fortress of a pack that holds and protects all of your gear, cargo, and valubles from morning’s start to the day’s end. Built to last a lifetime with waterproof fabrics and military spec. construction.
The Fitzroy also features multiple weatherproof compartments, urethane coated zippers, waterproof materials, and an internal frame sheet. Large zippered pocket fits most 17’’ laptops, with smaller zippered pockets for your gear. Made in the USA with a lifetime warranty. Available in Charcoal or Black for $219.00
Check out all of our Project 1.1 posts here!
What better way to kick off a single speed build than with a single speed cog? That’s right, it’s getting cooler and with shorter days and the snowline creeping downhill, it’s single speed season! For this year, I’m retiring my too-small On-One Scandal 29er in favor of an appropriately-sized Tomac Flint 29. As with our other build projects, look for a series of posts on what (was chosen), why (it was chosen), and how (it works) for each piece of the puzzle. First, the part that makes a single speed a single speed:
Because Chris King were out of their steel Kogs in my preferred 19t size, I set out to find an alternative- and found Homebrewed Components’ 2-Piece Cog. It would be easy enough to justify Homebrewed’s cog on the basis of its broad base (better to protect aluminum freehub bodies), American manufacture, or light weight- but the fact of the matter is that I wanted a purple one to match my bottle cage and headset. Read on for more details and photos…
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Photo submitted by Angel Matos, “Behind you can see the Cerro Puntas in Jayuya. The highest point of Puerto Rico. Here with my best friend Rubildo, in the First Transcordillera.”
To see more Pics of the Day, click here, and to submit your own photo to be shown to the world, go here.
The new 2012 Look 920 seems to have a polarizing effect due to nothing more than the head tube/stem assembly, but there’s so much more going on with the bike.
There are two frame variants based on size, plus a carbon upgrade kit that gives it a 50g lighter full carbon rocker, carbon seat post and carbon fiber DT Swiss rear shock. The frames differ near the seat tube/top tube junction. The XS and Small sizes have straight tubes meeting as you’d expect. The Medium and Large sizes have a molded, shapely top tube that flows upward into the seat tube much more gracefully, accentuated by the matte paint/carbon finish.
UPDATED: Corrected info about the frame variations at the top/seat tube junction above and other additions throughout the post…
Suspension is set at 120mm front and rear using a fixed rear triangle with no pivot near the axle, instead relying on carbon fiber’s ability to flex and recover to keep maintenance and weight at a minimum.
Since last fall’s arrival of Light & Motion’s Vis 180 and the subsequent arrival of Exposure’s Flare, I have been swapping between the two lights, which each represent a different take a new breed of self-contained, high-powered, rechargeable bicycle tail lights. Bright enough to be seen in all conditions (but no, not bright enough to “blind” anyone except those foolish enough to put it against their eye) and convenient to use, mount, and unmount, both lights have proved themselves- though for different riders. Here’s my take on the Vis 180:
While the claimed 35 Lumen output doesn’t sound much when compared to 900+ Lumen headlights, Light & Motion are notoriously rigorous when it comes to quantify their lights’ actual (rather than theoretical) output, meaning that 35 means 35. Coming from one main red LED and a single side/back-facing amber LED, this output is still nine times as bright as Planet Bike’s venerable Superflash tail light. Though not quite as bright as a car tail light’s 250 lumen, that’s a whole lot of light for a bicycle. Pulsing (rather than flashing), the Vis 180 is visibly different from anything else on the road.
